Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

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Something I’ve noticed, based on the conversations I’ve had recently, is that some otherwise very informed and intelligent Redskins fans aren’t hugely familiar with the team’s coaching staff outside of head coach Jim Zorn, defensive coordinator Greg Blache, and offensive line legend Joe Bugel.

So through these slow times in the offseason, I thought it might be useful to everyone if I caught up with those other guys one by one to get a sense of who they are and what they’re expecting heading into the 2009 season.

Offensive assistant Chris Meidt seemed like a good choice to start with, partially because he had the title that needed the most clarification (“offensive assistant” being spectacularly vague), and partially because he speaks incredibly quickly and would be able to pack a lot of information into a relatively short interview.

Casey Rabach, hearing that I was planning to interview Meidt, observed something else about the way he speaks: he has a pronounced Minnesotan accent. Not the cartoonish one from Fargo — more of an acute midwestern accent, with some flattened vowel sounds and rounded Os — but clear nonetheless. “I thought that I had an accent,” Rabach said in his Wisconsin accent, “and then I listened to that guy for awhile.” I didn’t think it was that dramatic, aside from turning “raw” into “rah” when characterizing Colt Brennan, but if you’re trying to hear Meidt’s voice in your head, add some Minnesota to his lines.

Which makes sense, since Meidt’s a Minnesota guy through and through. His last stop before joining the Redskins last year was tiny St. Olaf College in Minnesota, where his teams earned a 40-20 record, and he grew up in Minneota. His teams in St. Olaf were known for their offense, and Meidt has something of a reputation as a quirky offensive football mind.

But I started with the most basic question I could think of.

Your job title is somewhat nondescript — “offensive assistant.” What do you actually … you know … do?

Meidt: “Nondescript is a good word, because it leaves it really open to do almost anything, which I do. So you can fill in the blanks. Read more »

This is a completely free two-day event featuring position drills, agility and strength training, and a chance to work with Alexander, Kedric Golston, Chris Wilson, and Derrick Dockery. “Those are the guys who have confirmed so far,” Alexander told me, “but I think there’ll be some more as well.”Read more »